Battery-switch



C. A. GILLINGHAM.

BATTERY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1915.

1,337,217, mm Apr. 20, 1920.

TEE g. 3

INVENTOR. CHARLES A. GILLLMGHAM BY m TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. GILLINGHAM, F LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'JIO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BATTERY-SWIG! CH.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 20, 1920- Application filed February 4, 1916. Serial No. 76,086.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. GILLING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Battery- Switches, of which the following is a full,

battery and charge was previousy closed by means ofany of the ordinary circuit closing arrangements, such as a push button or knife switch in the circuit. In many cases the leads were simply manually applied to the terminals of the battery to explode the charge. With any of these methods there is a considerable possibility of the circuit being accidentallyclosed. An article falling on the push button or switch might momentarily close the circuit or it might be closed in a number of ways, which occasionally happens in blasting, with disastrous results.

One of the objects of my invention is to construct a circuit closing device which cannot he accidentally closed.

A second object is the construction of a device adapted to be attached to a battery terminal.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form of circuit closing device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A-A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line BB of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cavalier projection of one of the halves of a casing difiering somewhat from that shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

Fig. 5 is a cavalier projection of apart which is fitted in the casing of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of another modified circuit closing device.

Fig. 7 is a cavalier projection of certain parts of the modification of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit and a battery with the circuit closing devices applied thereto.

As is shown in Fig.- 1, the casing is made up of two blocks 1 and-2 held together in any suitable manner, as for example by a number of bolts 3 passing therethrough. Various insulating materials may be used for the casing, but it is preferable to use some material which can be formed or molded readily, such as porcelain, ebonite, bakel1te, 'condensite, etc.

'In Fig. 2 the block 2 of thecasing is shownin cross section with the conducting members inplace. In the following description it will be understood that block 1 is the same as block 2 except that the various parts are turned left for right. An inverted U-shaped channel 4 is cut in the surface of the block for a certain depth, and on either side of the central projecting member 5 of the U-shaped member, springs 6 and 7 are arranged in the side grooves of the channel.

The spring member 6 has an upper arm 8 bent over into the horizontal arm of the channel a and a lower portion 9 adapted to be fitted into a thin slot 10 in the block 2. A conductor 11 is soldered to the lower portion 9 of the spring 6 and passes 'up the face of the channel in a small groove 12 and through an opening 13. The end of the conductor is then fastened to a suitable binding post, such as a clip 14, which in turn is fastened to the casing by means of a screw or bolt 15. 'To operate the spring 6 an opening 16 ending in a concave enlargement 17 is provided for receiving a push button 18. When the blocks constituting the casing are bolted together the push button is retained by means of the head 19 and spring 6 acting thereon to force the push button outward.

The spring 7 has an upper curved member 20 similar to that of the spring 6. A lower member 21 somewhat longer than the member 9, is fitted in a thin slot 22 and terminates in a bent over portion 23 which is fitted ina recess 24: in the bottom of the block. The member 23 is internally threaded so that when the blocks 1 and 2 are fastened together the entire device may be screwed onto a threaded terminal, such as is used in the ordinary dry cell or dry cell battery. 'This member may also be constructed so as to engage any of various battery terminals. A bead 25 is formed between the spring portion 7 and the lower end 21 to prevent the spring from being drawn downward when the threaded member 23 is attached to the terminal.

To move the spring 7, a push button 26 of insulating material is provided which is arranged in the same manner as described in connection with push button 18.

As shown in Fig. 3 the bent over portions 8 and 20 are somewhat narrower than the combined depth of the inverted U-sha ed openings 4 in the blocks 1 and 2. he spring portions 6 and 7 have the same width as the bent over portion at the top and increase in width until at the point where they enter the grooves 10 or 22, they have the same width as the hollow space. The lower ends 9 and 21 fitted in the grooves are the same width as the U-shaped opening.

To close the circuit both push buttons are depressed so as to cause the rojections 8 and 20 to come into contact. he path of the current is then from the terminal to the nut 23, spring portions 21, 7, 20, and 8, 6, 9, and conductor 11, to the spring clip 14. If only one of the push buttons is pushed inward until the spring portion rests against the central block 5, the bent over member is not long enough to make contact with the other. The projection 5 is a little narrower than the combined span of the bent over portions 8 and 20, but somewhat wider than the reach of either one alone. With these proportions it becomes necessary to move both push buttons to close the circuit. This is readily done by means of the thumb and forefinger v of one hand. 1 I

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the casing consists of two blocks which differ from the block of Fig. 2 in that the projection 5 and a portion of the blocks between the grooves 10 and 22 is omitted. This portion is molded separately as a block 27 and the springs 6 and 7 are fastened thereto by screws 28. The other conducting members, such as the internally threade member 23, and conductor 11, are all fastened to this block. In assembling this modification the block 27 with the conducting members is fitted in the correspondin space in one of the halves of the casing an the other half put in place. The device is held together by bolts as in the preceding modification, the center one passing through the two halves of the casing and the central block 27 to retain it in position, and the two outer ones are placed as in the other modification. This device is operated in exactly the same manner as the form previously described.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a somewhat different form of circuit closer is shown consisting of a hollow cylindrical casin 29 of insulating material such as a fiber, e onite or bakelite tube. The upper edge 30 is hollowed out for a certain depthto provide a shoulder for retaining a metallic cap 31 having a circular opening for a push button 32 of insulating material. A cylindrical portion 33 integral with the cap fits into the casin 29 and is fastened thereto by a screw 34 w 'chr tom by the collar 40 having an o ening for the passage of the conductlng ro 37. The action of the spring maintains the push button and rod 37 in a raised position until the spring are held in place by a.

push button is depressed by an outside force.

At the bottom of the insulating member 39 are fastened two flat curved conducting members 41, 42. These members are insulated from each other and have their ends 43, 44 over the central opening 45 and in such proximity that they may be electrically connected by means of the conducting rod 37 by depressin the push button. The fiat member 42 is eIectrically connected to the cylindrical member 33 by means of a conductor 46 soldered to each of them. The other fiat member is connected to a knurl 47 by means of a conductor 48. The knurl 47 and conductor 48 are embedded in insulating material 49 which is poured or otherwise placed in the bottom of the casing.

WVith this type of switch it is quite important to have the rim 30 extend above the top of the push button so that if any article should fall across the top the push button would not be depressed.

The diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the arrangement is used on a battery. Althou h it is not absolutely essential to place a switch on each terminal, it is preferable to do so for the sake of the greater safety, although even with one switch of the type described herein the possibility of closing the circuit is very remote. Since each switch can readily be operated by one hand, there is no disadvanta e in the use of two switches.

aving described my invention, what I V circuit closer into electrical connection with the second terminal member.

2. In a circuit closing device for electric batteries, a hollow insulating casing, a member adapted to engage an electrical terminal, a spring in the hollow space of the casing electrically connected to said member, means on said casing for engaging a second electrical terminal, a second spring electrically connected with said means, and means for moving said springs to close the circuit.

3. In a circuit closing device for electric batteries, a hollow insulating casing, a member adapted to engage an electrical terminal, a spring in the hollow space of the casing electrically connected to said member, means on said casing for engaging second electrical terminal, a second spring electrically connected with said means, a push button for moving the first mentioned spring and a second push button placed opposite to the first mentioned push button for moving the second mentioned spring.

4. In a circuit closing device for electric batteries, a hollow insulating casing, a projection in said hollow portion, a pair of springs on opposite sides of said pro ection, a member adapted to engage an electrical terminal and electrically connected to one of said springs, means electrically connected to the remaining spring for engaging a second electrical terminal, and means for moving said springs toward the projection to close the circuit.

5. In a circuit closing device for electric batteries, a hollow insulating casing having oppositely placed openings leading into the hollow space, a projection in said hollow space, a pair of springs retained on opposite sides of said projection, a member adapted to engage an electrical terminal and electrically connected to one of said springs, means electrically connected to the remaining spring for engaging a second electrical terminal, and a pair of push buttons operated through said openings and adapted to engage the springs to close the circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES GILLINGHAM. 

